Saora's Benediction 5

      Despite Marshal’s laundry list of warnings, Saora reached Northshire’s stone gates without any trouble. Travelers occasionally paused, shifting their heavy bags to wave. She paused at the gate. It was the farthest she’d been from the Keep for as long as she could remember. Granted, that wasn’t very long, still she was leaving everything behind. Once again her stomach twisted on itself. She could still go back.
    
      She stepped through the gate.
    
      “HEY!”
    
      Saora jerked in shock. A man stood before her, plain clothed and surrounded by boxes. Her eyes narrowed and she clutched her back to her.
    
      “What?”
    
      The man laughed, “Oh, don’t be like that! I’m just so thrilled someone is leaving Northshire instead of entering! I need your help, miss!” He was clearly overjoyed to see her. Saora managed to stifle her own laugh.
    
      “What,” she smiled, “could you need my help for?”
    
      “My cargo! It absolutely must get to Goldshire! My horse ran off with the cart and I cannot leave the few materials I have left! You are leaving Northshire so you must be heading to Goldshire, yes? Please! Please! You must help me!”
    
      Saora finally giggled. The man was so animated, waving his arms, clasping his hands together. He was most likely mad, but at least he was amusing.
    
      “I cannot carry much, sir,” she said, “especially over such a distance.”
    
      The man’s jaw dropped, “You…you will help me? Really?! An angel, young miss, is what you are! Clearly an angel! I would not burden such a wonderful person with too much! Never! No, I would not allow it! There is only one small package that must, must reach Goldshire by nightfall! It is small and easy to carry! What is more, for your heavenly assistance, you may keep the bag it is housed in once the delivery is complete!?”
    
      “Oh that isn’t necessary.”
    
      “But it IS! It IS!”
    
      “Okay, I guess it is then.”
    
      After another several gratuitous exclamations, the man finally produced a small pack with a shoulder strap. He eagerly stuffed Saora’s new cloak in the pack, hoping to “free her burden”. As she shouldered the bundle, he explained it had to be taken to the innkeeper at Goldshire. He would know what to do with the cargo from there.
    
      “And be careful of who you speak to, miss!” he called as Saora left. “There are those who would do harm to get that package! Thank you again, my angel!”
    
      Saora couldn’t help rolling her eyes. She felt less like an angel and more like a pack mule. Still, it wasn’t out of her way and the man was clearly in distress. She shifted the light pack, wondering what was in it. Probably a shirt or something silly like that. The man wouldn’t entrust her with something important.
    
      The road stayed empty as she walked farther and farther from home. With less people there came more wildlife. Saora had seen deer and rabbits sparsely in Northshire but in the Elwynn Forest they wandered everywhere. She even saw wolves, something she identified form books she had read in the Keep. They were scrawny and watched her with hungry, red eyes. But they kept away from the road. Saora quickly grew accustomed to them and gazed at the beautiful trees surrounding her. She was thankful for the road. Without it, she would have wandered into the brush and never be seen again.
    
      “…help…”
    
      She froze. What was that?
    
      “…help me...please…”
    
      “Hello?” Saora craned her neck, peering through the trees. “Who’s there?”
    
      “please…” An arm reached out from behind a tree, splotched in blood, “...please.” Saora gasped, wrapping her arms around her stomach. The tree was several yards away. She would have to leave the safety of the road to help. Marshal’s warning rang in her mind.
    
      The arm clutched the tree’s exposed roots and pulled an older boy’s head and upper torso into view. His eyes were wide and streaming tears, clearly in pain. Every part of him, from his hair to his once white shirt, were stained with red. He was drenched in blood.
    
      “h-help...me…”
    
      Saora shot into the woods. She couldn’t close the distance fast enough. With so much blood, the boy had to be gravely wounded. Praying she still had a chance, she mentally started preparing the Prayer of Healing. If she worked quick enough, maybe…
    
      She reached the boy, grabbing his outstretched hand, “Stay with me!”
    
      “How about you stay with US instead.”
    
      Cold metal kissed the side of her throat. It pinched her skin and she felt something slick dribble down her shoulder. Saora froze. The boy in front of her snickered and sat up.
    
      “Next time,” he smirked through the blood, “you get to cover yourself in this good, Rolf.”
    
      A deep voice behind Saora laughed in short, bitter huffs, “Heh heh, but you have so much fun as the victim.” The boy, much older than Saora had thought, stood and wrapped a red bandanna around his forehead, sneering. Her eyes widened.
    
      Defias Bandits.